Guide for elevator cars



w. SPIRO 2,253,320

GUIDE FOR ELEVATOR CARS Filed Sept. 20, 1940 s SE lNVENTO R M2 fer S72 1 r0 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PA N OFFICE GUIDE FOR ELEVATOR cans i Walter Spiro, New York, N.'Y.,' g -m gmas, Q

assignments, to Elevator Safety Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 20, 1940,,Serial No.'3 57',6Z7

8 Claims. (on, 18-1-95) This invention relates to elevator equipment and more particularly refers to improvements in guides for use on elevator cars. I

In an application for patent entitled Roller guides for elevator cars, filed May 27, 1940, Serial No. 337,477, I have described and claimed a roller guide of novel construction, adapted to run along a T-shaped guide rail such as are currently used in elevator installations, said guide providing a three-point rolling contact with the guide-rail; and being automatically adjustable to unbalanced loading of the elevator and to rails presenting bends and other irregularities, while preventing undue friction and noisy operation of the elevator.

In the guide forming the subject of the above mentioned application, the guiding elements, including a roller bearing yoke capable of limited rocking movement in a vertical plane, riding along one of the side surfaces of the guide-rail, and a roller bearing carrier riding along the opposite side surface, are mounted so as to be capable of axial displacement with respect to carrier studs directed at right angles to said side surfaces, and are held against said surfaces by means of springs.

However, in suchand other types of elevator roller guides in current use, in which the rollers .are pressed against the guide-rail by springs or other resilient means, these springs must exert sufficient force to maintain the normal relationship between the rail and the elevator in spite of uneven loading of the car or any other unbalanced forces. This requires a heavy spring pressure which must be withstood by the roller tire and its bearing, and the consequent heavy load upon these parts is the cause of excessive heating and premature wear, as well as excessive power consumption due to the necessity of overcoming the frictional resistance developing between rollers and guide-rail.

Furthermore, the necessity of employing a separate heavy spring for each guiding element, entails as a consequence the necessity of providing a sturdy and heavy construction throughout, also the necessity of using many parts which go to increase the weight and cost of the structure.

In another copending application for patent entitled Pressure adjusting means for elevator guides, filed August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,463,

.I have described and claimed a guide of improved a lltisto be noted, however, that in both types of structures described in the said applications, and also inkindred types, such as, for instance, the rail guide described in Patent No. 2,083,502, issued June 8,1937, to A, A. Matthews, when an abnormal condition causes one of the guiding elements ridingl'along the adjoining side surface of the guide-rail, to yield to suddenpressure against the action of its spring, compressing said spring, the guiding element riding along theopposite surface'will :be maintained in contact with said surface. by the action of its own spring, which will be free to expand in corresponding measure The normal relationship between the guides and the guide-rail, is to be subsequently reestablished solely by the reaction of the compressed guiding element against its respective riding surfacadue'tozthe difference between the pressure exerted by its 'spring,:and thepressure exerted by the expanded spring of the guiding element at the opposite side. There is necessarily a time lag between the compression of a spring and its expansion; especially when, asstated, the compressed spring in order to expand has to overcome the antagonistic action of a weaker spring.

tion and utilization of the spring pressure available in its entirety, 7

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an elevator rail guide guide, a simple and novel arrangement of its guiding elements,,resulting in a sensitive action,

instantly effective in returning to normal an abnormal relationship between guides and guiderails in an elevator installation, due to an unbalanced load or some other cause.

A further object is to provide, in an elevator guide, a novel and improved arrangement of guiding elements, whereby under normal conditions it is possible to hold the guiding elements against the rail with a relatively moderate pressure, said pressure being automatically increased when an unbalan'cedload or other cause may "tend to disturb the normal relationship between the guide-rail and the guiding elements.

' A still further object is to provide an elevator guide of an-improved design, in which all the spring pressure available may be brought to bear g An additional object is to provide, in an elevator guide, a novel and improved arrangement of parts, whereby an abnormal relationship between the guiding elements and the guide-rail may be returned to normal by the combined reaction of guiding elements riding along opposite surfaces-of the guide-rail, against their respective riding surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds, and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side view in elevation of an elevator rail-guide embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transversal section of the same through line 33 of Fig. 2'; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the same, in an enlarged scale, through line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawing, designates one of the T-shaped guide-rails, such as are generally provided for the car in an elevator shaft.

Guides, mounted at each end of the topand bottom cross bars of the car Sling, are arranged to cooperate with the guide-rail to guide the car in its movement in the shaft.

The guide-rail has two side surfaces H, I2, and an end surface [3, providing runways for the rollers forming part of the guide structure.

The guide structure is mounted on a bracket 14, which is secured to the cross bar of the car sling, said bracket being formed integral with a hollow horizontal extension [5, forming a cylindrical chamber l6 within which is rotatably mounted the stem portion l! of one of the cross arms is constituting one of the side guiding elements of the structure.

Within said stem portion 11 is rotatably mounted coaxially therewith the stem portion H! of another cross arm constituting the other side guiding element of the structure.

Said two arms [6, 20 cross each other to form an X-shaped support for the guiding rollers 2H, 22, rotatably mounted one at each end of arm l8 and guiding rollers 23, 24, rotatably mounted one at each end of arm 20.

The outer surface of arm 20 is preferably on a plane with the outer surface of arm l8 and, to this end, arm I8 is formed with a recess within which is housed the central part 26 of arm 23, said recess being wider than said central part 26 of arm 20 in order to allow a certain relative swinging movement therebetween and being inclined at an angle such that when the central line of arm 23 substantially coincides with the central line of said recess, the clearance between adjoining rollers of the X support substantially corresponds to the thickness of the central rib portion 21 of the T-rail 10.

Part of stem portion I! is recessed to form an annular chamber 28, surrounding the stem portion I9 of arm 20, said annular chamber serving as a housing for a helical spring 29, anchored at one end 30 to the stem portion l1 and at the other end 3i to the stem portion 19, said stem portions being formed with housings 32, 33, respectively, each adapted to receive one of the ends of the spring.

The spring 29 is set under a tension, causing a tendency in the two arms to turn in opposite directions about their common axis so as to close the X-shaped support, that is, so as to cause the rollers to press against their respective adjoining side surfaces of the rail.

It is to be understood that the torsional force exerted by the spring against the arms is such as to hold the rollers against the rail with a sufiicient pressure to insure continuity of contact between said rollers and said rail under normal conditions.

The guide structure also comprises a vertically extending elongated frame formed with a hub portion 34, slidably mounted upon hollow extension i5 of bracket [4, and having an upwardly extending arm 35 and a downwardly extending arm 36, the end of each of said arms constituting a bifurcated support 31, 38, carrying a wheel or roller 39, 40, rotatably mounted at M, 42, said wheels or rollers, like wheels 2|, 22, 23, 24, being preferably equipped with tires made of rubber or other resilient material.

In operation said frame extends in front of and parallel with the rail It and the wheels or rollers 39, 40, which are of equal diameter and are symmetrically mounted with respect to the frame, ride along the end surface 13 of the guide rail.

The vertical alinement of the frame 34-35 36 is maintained in any suitable manner, for instance, by means of a key 43 and sliding keyway 44, engaged thereby, and pressure contact between the rollers 39, 40 and the end surface of the guide rail is maintained by the action of a helical spring 45 mounted between the hub portion 3 1 of the frame and the wall of bracket 14.

It will be observed that the guide forming the subject of the present invention is of extremely simple construction and that the fact that the elements. carrying the rollers riding along the side of the guide-rail are actuatedby rotatory instead of translatory movement results in an easier and more sensitive action of the spring.

However, the advantages deriving from the construction advocated go far beyond mere simplicity and consequent saving in bulk and weight.

In the first place, it will be seen that a single spring may be used to press the side guiding elements into contact relationship between the rollers and the guide-rail; furthermore, it will be seen that any deviation of the elevator car from its normal path in a direction transversal to the rib portion 21 of the guide-rail, causing one or the other of the side surfaces of the rail to react against the rollers riding along the same, will result in an immediate increase in the torsion of the spring, which will thus be more effective in returning conditions to normal. Furthermore, if an abnormal condition arises due to an irregularity in the rail, causing a reaction to take place by the rail against only one of the rollers, the tension of the spring will in this case also be increased, causing the roller directly opposite to press with increased pressure against its own riding surface, thus giving rise to a counter reaction, which will be paired with the action of the arm which was previously deflected from its normal position, in returning conditions to normal.

In both cases, therefore, the tension of the spring is increased under abnormal stresses, causing swinging movement of one or both arms around their common axis, and furthermore, the force exerted by the spring is utilized in its entirety in reestablishing normal conditions.

As a consequence of the manner in which the spring thus operates, it becomes possible to cause the side rollers to press against the guide rail with only a moderate pressure while the normal relationship between the guide and the guide-rail is maintained, a heavier pressure entering automatically into play when such normal relationship is disturbed owing to an unbalanced load or other cause.

Consequently, since the necessity of constantly applying a heavy pressure against the rollers entailed by types of rollers guider heretofore known is in the present case avoided, the construction described corrects conditions leading to excessive heating and premature wear of the roller tires and bearings, due to excessive load upon these parts, as well as excessive power consumption due to the frictional resistance developing between rollers and guide-rail.

It is obvious that more than one spring, or springs of a type diiferent from that shown and escriloed, can be used to urge the cross arms of the device in the pressure exerting direction. It is also obvious that other constructional details may vary from those shown and described without departing from the inventive idea. The drawing should, therefore, be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense.

I, accordingly, reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having two side riding surfaces the combination, with a support, of two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted on said support, said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at each end, and resilient means urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers Will press against one of said side riding surfaces, and the other roller will press against the opposite surface.

2. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having two side riding surfaces the combination, with a support, of two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted on said support,

said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at each end, and resilient means interposed between said arms urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers will press against one ofsaid side riding surfaces, and the other roller will press against the opposite surface.

3. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having two side riding surfaces the combination, with a support, of two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted on said support, said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at'each end, and a helical spring, interposed between said arms, urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers will press against one of said side riding surfaces, and the other roller will press against the opposite surface.

4.. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having an end riding surface and two side riding surfaces the combination, with a support, of two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted on said support, said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at each end, resilient means urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers will press against one of said side riding surfaces, and the other roller. will press against the opposite surface, and a frame, also mounted on said support, having two longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to ride along the end riding surface.

5. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having an end riding surface and two side riding surfaces the combination, with a support, of two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted on said support, said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at each end, resilient means urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers will press against one of said side riding surfaces, and the other roller will press against the opposite surface, a frame, also mounted on said support, having two longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to ride along the end riding surface, and resilient means urging said frame towards said end riding surface.

6. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having an end riding surface and two side riding surfaces, a support having a hollow bearing laterally extending therefrom, two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted in said bearing, said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at each end, resilient means urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers will press against one of said side riding surfaces, and the other roller will press against the opposite surface, and a frame mounted on, and shiftable along said bearing, having two longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to ride along said end riding surface.

7. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having an end riding surface and two side riding surfaces, a support having 7 a hollow bearing laterally extending therefrom,

8. In an elevator guide for use in connection with a guide rail having an end riding surface and two side riding surfaces, a support having a hollow bearing laterally extending therefrom, two coaxial cross arms pivotally mounted in said bearing, said cross arms forming an articulated X-shaped structure, each arm having a roller at. each end, a helical spring, interposed between said arms, urging said arms to rotate each in the direction in which one of its rollers will press against one of said side riding surfaces, and the other roller will press against the opposite surface, a frame mounted on, and shiftable along said bearing, having two longitudinally spaced rollers adapted to ride along said end riding surface, and a spring urging said frame towards said end riding surface. I

' WALTER SPIRO. 

